Automatic pulverizing and mixing apparatus



April 4, 1950 LE GRAND G. wHlTLocK 2,502,903

AUTOMATIC PULVERIZING AND MIXING APPARATUS Filed May 2o, 1947 4 shams-sheet 1 April 4, 1950 LE GRAND G. wHlTLocK 2,502,908

AUTOMATIC PULVERIZING AND MIXING `APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 20, 1947 l INVENTOR [edl/ Zeef) BY M-r, ATTORNEY April 4, 1950 LE GRAND G. wHlTLocK 2,502,908

AUTOMATIC PULVERIZING AND MIXING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May- 2o, 1947 lNvEN'roR ew/l Wifi/'da oRNEY April'4, 1950 LE GRAND G. wHxTLocK 2,502,908

AUTOMATIC PuLvERIzING AND MIXING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 2o, 1947 Patented pr. 4, 1950 AUTOMATIC PULvERIzrNG AND MIXING APPARATUS Le Grana G. Whitlock, Bloomeeia, N. J. Application May 20, 1947, Serial No. 749,145

(ci. al1- 199) 11 Claims.

This invention relates, generally, to improvements in pulverizing and/or mixing apparatus or machine; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel construction of power actuated mechanism adapted to automatically effect the operations of pulverizing and mixing non-cohesive materials or the mixing of cohesive materials, as the case may be, in a rapid and highly efficient manner, thereby avoiding necessity for use of hand labor, as e. g. by ma-v nipulation of Aa pestle and mortar or other hand operated utensils, in the performance of such operations.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel power driven automatic machine comprising a; receptacle and cooperating mixer or hammer element, and means for eecting cooperative movement of these parts for the working of material deposited within the receptacle.

The invention has for a more specific object to provide a novel machine of the kind mentioned which comprises an open receptacle and vcooperating hammer .or pestle member, .and

means for effecting coordinatedv cooperative movements of these parts, wherebyreciprocatory movement of the hammer. or pestlemember is accompanied by combined rotativeand oscillaf tory movements of the receptacle, so that Ina-` terials contained in receptacle aresubmitted to jthe impact of said hammer. or pestle member A while being tumbled by the movements of the receptacle, and thereby rapidly and uniformly subkjected to strong pulverizing action and thorough mixing agitation.

Other` objects of this invention, notat this Stime more particularly enumerated, willbe understood from the following detailed description of the same; however, it must be understood that the invention is not limited to the details or s'pecic forms of the devices and parts thereof shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the following specification, but shall be deemed to include such modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the hereinafter appended claims.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the machine showing the material receptacle and pulverizing and mixing hammer, together with the operating mechanisms therefor, in one of their several operative positions; Fig. 2 is a similar view, with parts shown in elevation, with the several parts and their operating mechanisms in another of their several positions; and Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the machine in part section and with parts broken away.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the hammer lifting cam of the hammer actuating mechanism; and Fig. 5 is a similar view, showing a modified form of said cam.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the machine showing the hammer mechanism supporting head displaced from its normal operaf tive position to permit removal and replacement of the material receptacle of the machine.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the hereinabove described views to indicate corresponding parts,

Referring to the drawings, the framework of the machine comprises a hollow base I0 of suitable shape, across the open top of which is xed a top plate II which is formed at its rearward end portion to provide an upstanding standard or pedestal I2. Journaled in and across the lower portion of said standard or pedestal I2 is the power shaft I3 of the machine, which may be driven from any suitable source of power, but which is preferably driven by an electric motor I4 through belt and pulley transmission I5. Said motor I4 is mounted on an externally projecting shelf I6 with which the base I Il is provided.

Suitably journaled in connection with the base Ill and standard 0r pedestal I2 is a perpendicular countershaft I'I. Said countershaft is driven from the power shaft I3 through suitably supported transmission gearing which comprises a worm I8 on said power shaft which meshes with a worm gear I9 adapted to drive said countershaft through intermediate miter gears 20 and 2 I At its forward end portion, the base top plate II is formed to provide a dependent upwardly open receptacle carriage housing 22 which terminates at its lower end in an axially aligned bearing portion 23. Supported within said housing 22 is the lower end portion of a rotatable receptacle carriage 24, the upper portion of which projects freely above the top plate I I and in front of said standard or pedestal I2 and countershaft I'I. Said receptacle carriage 24 is of hollow construction to provide an upper internal chamber 25 from the bottom of which extends an axially disposed cavity 26 of reduced diameter. Dependent from the lower end of the receptacle carriage 24 is an axial shank portion 21, which is journaled in and extends downwardly through the bearing portion 23 of the receptacle carriage housing 22. Said receptacle carriage is rotatable about its perpendicular axis; and to this end is driven from said countershaft I1 through suitably supported gearing comprislng intermeshing spur gears 28 and 29. Said spur gears 28 and 29 are respectively fixed on said countershaft l1 and shank portion 21 of the receptacle carriage.

Aflixed to and across the top of said receptacle carriage 24 is an apertured seating plate 36. Seated upon said seating plate, so as to be oscillatably supported by the margins of the aperture thereof, is an upwardly open receptacle 3|. The bottom portion of said receptacle 3|, which seats on the margins of the seating plate aperture, is shaped externally and internally, in the form of a spherical segment.

Mounted within the bottom end of the cavity 26 in the receptacle carriage 24, so as to be rotatable therein, is a receptacle oscillating cam 32, which is affixed to the upper end of an axial shaft 33. Said shaft 33 is journaled in and extends through an axial bore 34 with which the receptacle carriage shank portion 21 is provided. The shaft 33 of said cam 32 is driven from the rotated shank portion 21 of the receptacle carriage 24 through a reduction gear train which includes a driver spur gear 35 which is fixed on said shank portion 21. A unitary stepped reduction gearing is mounted on and so as to rotate freely about the countershaft I1 as an axis, and comprises a primary spur gear 36 in mesh with the driver spur gear 35 and a secondary spur gear 31 which is afxed to said primary spur gear so as to rotate therewith. Said secondary spur gear 31 drives, through an intermediate idler gear 38, a spur gear 39 which is fixed on the lower end of said cam actuating shaft 33. Housed in the upper end portion of the receptacle carriage cavity 26 is a cam follower 40 which engages and is actuated by said receptacle oscillating cam 32. Through the above described drive gearing, the carriage 24 is rotated in one direction and the cam 32 in the opposite direction.

Secured to the receptacle carriage 24, within the bottom of its upper internal chamber 25, is a bearing plate 4| which bridges the underlying cavity 26. Pivotally mounted on a transverse fulcrum pin 42, which is carried by said bearing plate 4|, is an oscillatable bell-crank 43. As thus mounted and carried, said bell-crank will be revolved by and in company with the rotated receptacle carriage 24. The lower arm 44 of the said bell-crank is operatively engaged by the cam follower 49; said lower arm being entered in and embraced by a notch 45 with which' said cam follower is provided, whereby the revolving movement of said receptacle carriage and bellcrank is also transmitted to said cam ffollower. The upper arm 46 of said bell-crank extends upwardly through the interior of the receptacle carriage chamber 25 toward the receptacle 3| carried by the latter. The bottom of said receptacle 3| is provided with an axially disposed dependent bifurcate lever arm 41 which embraces a coupling cross-pin 48 with which the free end of said upper arm 46 of the bell-crank is provided, so that oscillatory movements of the bell-crank are thereby imparted to the receptacle 3|, and consequently the revolving movement transmitted to the latter is accompanied by a simultaneous lateral or back and forth rocking motion in the supporting seating plate 30 of the receptacle carriage. The bell-crank 43 is maintained in operative engagement with the cam follower 46 by a compression spring 49 which is suitably supported between said cam follower and the free end portion of the upper arm 46 of the bell-crank.

Afiixed to the upper end of the standard or pedestal |2 is a bracket or post 50 in which is 5 supported a transverse hinging pin 5|, the opposite ends of which provide pivotal support for a movable head frame by which the hammer of the machine is carried. Said head frame comprises a pair of opposed hollow matching side plates 52, adapted to provide an intermediate chamber within which the hammer actuating mechanism is housed, Pivotally mounted within the forward end portion of said head frame, which normally overhangs a receptacle 3| on the receptacle carriage 24, are parallel action links 53 and 54 by the free ends of which a hammer carrier 55 is supported, subject to up and down movement in an arcuate path. Pivotally connected, by a transverse cross-pin 56, with the lower end portion tion 51 of a socketed coupler chuck 58 for detachably coupling a hammer element 59 to the lower end of said hammer carrier 55, and so as to be operatively disposed for reciprocation within the interior of a receptacle 3| operatively mounted on the receptacle carriage 24. The hammer element 59 is provided at its upper end with a coupling butt 60 which is adapted to be entered in the socketed coupler chuck 58, and detachably secured thereto by means of a snap ring retainer 6|. Said coupler chuck and the hammer element supported thereby is yieldably urged laterally in one direction toward the inner surface of the side walls of a receptacle 3| in which the hammer element is operatively entered, and to this end a compression spring 62 is interposed between an upstanding abutment lug 63, with which the upper end portion 51 of the coupler chuck is provided, and an adjacent opposed side of the hammer carrier 55.

Pivoted on the hinging pin 5|, for rocking movement in a vertical plane, is a hammer actuating lever 64, the outer bifurcate free end portion of which straddles the hammer carrier 55 so as to engage beneath outwardly projecting ends of the cross-pin 56 of the latter, whereby, at proper times, to impart lifting movement to said hammer carrier and the hammer element dependent therefrom. Drop or descending movement of the hammer carrier and hammer element is effected by a suitably anchored pull spring 65 which is suitably connected with said hammer carrier 55. Suitably timed operation of the hammer actuating lever 64 is produced by a 55 hammer lifting cam 66 which is affixed to the upper end of the countershaft |1 so as to be rotated thereby. The upper end of said lifting cam 66 is provided with an annular ascending cam surface 61 which terminates at its high point 30 in a drop step 68 leading back to its low point. Said drop step 68 may be perpendicular, as shown in Fig. 4, or it may be somewhat oblique, as shown 'at 68 in Fig. 5, accordingly as an abrupt or a more gradual drop of the hammer element is 35 desired with respect to its downward pulverizing or grinding stroke. Said hammer actuating lever 64 is provided with a suitably located and formed cam follower projection 69 adapted to operatively ride the cam surface 61 of said lifting cam 66. 70 Preferably said cam follower projection is made of a hard, wear resisting material, such e. g. as tungsten carbide. Said hammer actuating lever 64 is provided with an angularly projecting arm 10 to which is connected a suitably anchored pull spring 1 which is operative to cause the hammer of said hammer carrier 55 is the upper end poraccesos actuating lever 64 to properly follow the lifting cam 66. z

The free end face of the hammer element 59 is shaped in the form of a spherical segment which conforms to the internal spherical surface of the receptacle 3|.

The head frame 52, being pivoted on the hinging pin 5| to swing in vertical plane, may be upswung from a normal service position, shown in Fig. 1, to an out of service position, shown in Fig. 6. Said head frame is provided with stops 12 and 13 to abut the base of the bracket or post 50, whereby to stop the head frame respectively in said service and out of service positions. Said head frame may also be provided with a spring pressed ball detent means 14 (see Fig. 3) for selective cooperation with seating sockets 15 and 16 with which an adjacent face of the bracket or post 50 is provided, whereby to releasably hold the head fra-me against displacement from either said position. Preferably the head frame 52 is counterbalanced by a torsion spring 11 which is mounted around the hinging pin 5|; one end of said spring being secured to said hinging pin and the other end thereof to said head frame (see Fig. 3)

When the machine is stopped with the receptacle 3|, as supported by the receptacle carriage 24, disposed in the out tilted position shown in Fig. 1, the head frame 52 may be upswung to out of service position shown in Fig. 6, thus withdrawing the hammer element 59 out of the interior of said receptacle 3|, and thus freeing the receptacle so that it may be lifted away from the carriage 24 to withdraw its bifurcate lever arm 41 from coupled relation to the bell-crank 43,`

and thereafter removed from the machine; or, conversely, inserted and operatively mounted in the machine. When the head frame 52 occupies said upswung out of service position, the hammer element 59 is also accessible for manipulation to detach or replace the same relative to the hammer carrier.

The receptacle and hammer element above described are adapted, when actuated by the machine, for use in pulverizing and mixing noncohesive materials, in the performance of which operations they cooperate in the manner of a mortar and pestle. In such use and operation 0f the machine, the non-cohesive materials desired to be treated are deposited in a receptacle 3|, whereupon the latter is operatively mounted in the machine. The head frame 52 is thereupon down swung to enter the hammer element 59 in said receptacle, and the machine put in motion,

Power delivered through the receptacle rotating transmission will cause the receptacle carriage to rotate about its vertical axis. At the same time,

24 through the intermediate transmission means 4 to the receptacle oscillating cam 32, whereby the cam follower is caused to rise and fall and thereby actuate the bell-crank 43, which causes the receptacle 3| to rock back and forth on the receptacle carriage 24 as said receptacle is revolved. By varying the speed ratio between the receptacle rotating transmission and the receptacle oscillating transmission, the components of the compound rotating and oscillating motion of the receptacle may be relatively varied as desired. As shown, the speed ratio between the receptacle rotating transmission and the receptacle oscillating transmission is 2:1, i. e. two revolutions of the receptacle is accompanied by one cycle of oscillation thereof.

While the receptacle 3| is in motion as described, the hammer lifting cam 66, which rotates at relatively high speed, causes the hammer actuating lever 64 to repeatedly lift and drop the hammer carrier 55, thus causing the hammer element 59 to lift and drop relative to the interior of the receptacle 3| and its content, so that, on the dropping phases of the hammer element motion, impact of the hammer element upon the content of the receptacle occurs; said impact being accompanied by a rubbing or grinding effect due to the combined rotating and oscillating movement of the receptacle. By reason of such action, a strong pulverizing effect is exercised upon the content of the receptacle, While at the same time a tumbling motion is also transmitted to said content, whereby to assure thorough mixing of the material. In addition to this, due to the action of the parallel linkage support of the hammer carrier 55, whereby its up and down motion follows an arcuate path, plus the laterally yieldable thrust exercised by the compression spring 62, the hammer element 59, during its rising and falling motion, effects a wiping contact with the side Walls of the receptacle 3 I (see broken line representation of the receptacle in Fig. 2), which loosens any particles of material under treatment that tend to cling to the receptacle side walls, whereby said particles are returned to the bottom of the receptacle so as to be subjected to the desired pulverizing, grinding and mixing action.

In the treatment of some materials, it may be desired to definitely limit the time of treatment. In such case, the motor I4 may be served by a current supply circuit including manual switches 19 and 80, one of which is connected in series with a suitable time switch 8|, and the other of which may be in shunt so as to be m'anipulatable to independently control the motor when, after automatic stopping of the machine by the time switch, it is necessary to momentarily operate the machine to bring the receptacle 3| into the forwardly tilted position, shown in Figs. 1 and 6, required to permit removal thereof from the machine. If desired, said motor control circuits may include suitable condition indicating signal means, such e. g. as the signal lamps 82 and 83 (see Figs. 2 and 3).

To assure adequate lubrication of the receptacle rotating and receptacle oscillating transmissions, the hollow base I0 may be lled with lubricating oil through suitably located admission Lmeans 84 with which the base |0 is provided (see Figs. 2 and 3).

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. A machine for the purposes described comprising a rotatable receptacle carriage, means to rotate said carriage, a receptacle mounted on said carriage, an oscillatable bell-crank means operative to rock said receptacle while rotated by said carriage, cam means for actuating said bell-crank means, an element adapted to be entered in said receptacle for cooperation therewith, means to reciprocate said element within said receptacle, and means for driving said cam means at a selected speed ratio to the receptacle carriage rotating means.

2. A machine for the purposes described comprising a rotatable receptacle carriage, means to rotate said carriage, an oscillatable bell-crank means rotatable with said carriage, a receptacle, means to detachably mount said receptacle on said carriage in coupled relation tosaid bellcrank means. a driven cam means for actuating escaso@ 7. said bell-crank means whereby to rock said receptacle as it rotates with said carriage, a ham.- mer element adapted to be entered in` said receptacle for cooperation therewith, and means to reciprocate said hammer element with impact effect upon the interior of said receptacle.

3. A machine for the purposes described comprising a rotatable receptacle carriage, means to rotate said carriage, an oscillatable bell-crank means rotatable with said carriage, a receptacle, means to detachably mount said receptacle on said carriage in coupled relation to said bellcrank means, a driven cam means for actuating said bell-crank means whereby to rock said receptacle as it rotates with said carriage, a hammer element adapted to be entered in said receptacle for cooperation therewith, means to reciprocate said hammer element with impact effect upon the interior of said receptacle, and means to support said hammer element subject to Withdrawal from said receptacle at will.

4. A machine for the purposes described as defined in claim 2 including means to yieldably thrust said hammer element laterally toward and in contact with the side of said receptacle during reciprocation ofl said hammer element for wiping eiect upon the receptacle sides.

5. A machine for the purposes described comprising a rotatable receptacle carriage, means to rotate said carriage, an oscillatable bell-crank means rotatable with said carriage, a receptacle having a bottom portion shaped to form a segment of a hollow sphere, means to detachably mount said receptacle on said carriage in coupled relation to said bell-crank means, a driven cam means for actuating said bell-crank means whereby to rock said receptacle as it rotates with said carriage, a hammer element adapted to be entered in said receptacle for cooperation therewith, said hammer element having an enlarged convex free end portion shaped to form a segment of a sphere of the same radius as that of the concavity of said receptacle bottom, whereby to provide a large area of conforming contact with the latter, means to reciprocate said hammer element with impact effect upon the interior of said receptacle, and means to support said hammer element subject to withdrawal from said receptable at will.

6. A machine for the purposes described comprising a rotatable receptacle carriage, means to rotate said carriage, an oscillatable bell-crank means rotatable with said carriage, a receptacle having a bottom portion shaped-to form a segment of a hollow sphere, means to detachably mount said receptacle on said carriage in coupled relation to said bell-crank means, a driven cam means for actuating said bell-crank means whereby to rock said receptacle as it rotates with said carriage, a hammer element adapted to be entered in said receptacle for cooperation therewith, said hammer element having an enlarged convex free end portion shaped to form a segment of a sphere of the same radius as that of the concavity oi said receptacle bottom, whereby to provide a large area of conforming contact with the latter, means to reciprocate said hammer element with impact eiect upon the interior of said receptacle, means to yieldably thrust said hammer element laterally toward and in Contact with the side of said receptacle during reciprccation of said hammer element for wiping eiect upon the receptacle sides, and means to support said hammer element subject to withdrawal from said receptacle at will.

1.- In amachine for the purposes described as defined in claim 2, wherein the means for reciproeating the hammer element comprises a hammer carrier supported by pivoted parallel linkage so aS to move up and down in an arcuate path, a cam operated pivoted actuating lever operative to lift said carrier, and spring means to induce down stroke movement of said carrier and hammer element.

8. A machine for the purposes described comprising a rotatable receptacle carriage, means to rotate said carriage, an oscillatable bell-crank means rotatable with said carriage, a receptacle having a bottom portion shaped to form a segment of a hollow sphere, means to detachably mount said receptacle on said carriage in coupled relationv to said bell-crank means, a driven cam `means for actuating said bell-crank means whereby to rock said receptacle as it rotates with said carriage, a pivoted head frame above said receptacle adapted to be swung toward and from the-latter, a hammer carrier supported from said head frame by pivoted parallel linkage so as to move up and down in an arcuate path toward and from said receptacle, a hammer element connected with the lower end of said carrier whereby to enter said receptacle for reciprocation therein, said hammer element having a free end portion shaped to form a segment of a sphere conforming to the bottom shape of said receptacle, and means to reciprocate said carrier and hammer element relative to the rotated and oscillated receptacle, whereby to produce impact effect of the hammer element end portion upon the interior of said receptacle.

9. A machine for the purposes described cornprising a rotatable receptacle carriage, means to rotate said carriage, an oscillatable bell-crank means rotatable with said carriage, a receptacle having a bottom portion shaped to form a segment of a hollow sphere, means to detachably mount said receptacle on said carriage in coupled relation to said bell-crank means, a driven cam means for actuating said bell-crank means whereby to rock said receptacle as it rotates with said carriage, a pivoted head frame above said receptacle adapted to be swung toward and from the latter,` a hammer carrier supported from said head frame by pivoted parallel linkage so as to move up and down in an arcuate path toward and from said receptacle, a hammer element connected with the lower end of said carrier whereby to enter said receptacle for reciprocation therein, said hammer element having a free end portion shaped to form a segment of a sphere conforming to the bottom shape of said receptacle, and means to reciprocate said carrier and hammer element relative to the rotated and oscillated receptacle, whereby to produce impact effect of the hammer element end portion upon the interior of said receptacle, comprising a cam operated pivoted actuating lever operative to lift said carrier, and spring means to induce down stroke movement of said carrier and hammer element.

10. A machine for the purposes described comprising a rotatable receptacle carriage, means to rotate said carriage, an oscillatable bell-crank means rotatable with said carriage, a receptacle having a bottom portion shaped to form a segment of a hollow sphere, means to detachably mount said receptacle on said carriage in coupled relation to said bell-crank means, a driven cam means for actuating said bell-crank means whereby to rock said receptacle as it rotates with assauts said carriage, a pivoted head frame above said receptacle adaptedk to be swung toward and from the latter, a. hammer carrier supported from said head framev by pivoted parallel, linkage so as to move up and down in an arcuate path toward and from said receptacle, a hammer element connected with the lower end of said carrier whereby to enter said receptacle for reciprocation therein, means to yieldably thrust vsaid hammer element laterally toward and in contact with the side of said receptacle during reciprocation of said ham mer element for wiping eiect upon the receptacle sides, said hammer element having a free end portion. shaped to form a segmentI of a sphereA conforming to the bottom shape of said receptacle, and means to reciprocate said carrier and hammer element relative to said rotatedV and oscillated receptacle, whereby to produce impact eiect of the hammer element end portion upon the interior of said receptacle.

11. A machine for the purposes described con prising a rotatable receptacle carriage, means to rotate said carriage, an oscillatable bell-crank means rotatable with said carriage, a receptacle having a bottom portion shaped to form a segment of a hollow sphre, means to detachably mount said receptacle on said carriage in coupled relation to said bell-crank means, a driven cam means for actuating said bell-crank meansy whereby to' rock said receptacle as it rotates with said carriage, a pivoted head frame above said receptacle adapted to be swung toward and from the latter, a hammer carrier supported from said head frame by pivoted parallel linkage so as to move up and down in an arcuate path toward and from said receptacle, a hammer element connected with the lower end of said carrierwhereby to enter said receptacle for-reciprocation therein, meansv to yieldably thrust said hammer element laterally toward and in contact with theside of said receptacle during reciprocation ofsaid hammer element for wiping effect upon the receptacle sides, said hammer element having .a free end portion shaped to form a segment of a sphere conforming to the bottom shape of said receptacle, and means to reciprocate said carrier and hammer element. relative to saidA rotated and' oscillated. receptacle', whereby to produce impact eifect of the hammer element end portion upon. the interior of said receptacle, comprising a cam operated pivoted actuating lever operative to lift said carrier.. and spring means to induce .down `stroke movement, of said carrier and hammer element.

LE GRAND` G. WH'ITLOCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file oi this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain. Feb. 6, i931 

